Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device is provided. The display device includes: a flexible display panel; a flexible plate disposed at a rear of the display panel and coupled to the display panel; a driving module disposed at a rear of the plate and including a moving block that moves in a reciprocating motion on the lead screw; sliding mounts spaced apart from the driving module and fixed to the rear of the plate; a slide bracket movably coupled to the sliding mounts; wings elongated with a first end coupled to the moving block and a second end coupled to the slide bracket, and having pivot shafts disposed adjacent to the moving block between the moving block and the slid bracket; and wing brackets connected with the pivot shafts and fixed to the rear of the plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit ofearlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2022-0067924, filed on Jun. 3, 2022, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The following description relates to a display device, and moreparticularly to a display device capable of changing a curvature of adisplay panel.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of the information society, there have been growingdemands for various types of display devices, and in order to meet thesedemands, various display devices, such as a liquid crystal display(LCD), an electroluminescent display (ELD), a vacuum fluorescent display(VFD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel, etc., have beenstudied and used recently.

Among these display devices, the OLED panel may display images as thepanel includes a self light-emitting organic layer deposited on asubstrate on which transparent electrodes are formed. The OLED panel isthin and flexible, and active research has been conducted on thestructural characteristics of a display device including the OLED panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present disclosure to solve the above andother problems.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide a structurecapable of freely changing a curvature of a display panel.

It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide amechanism capable of freely changing a curvature of a display.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the above andother objectives can be accomplished by providing a display deviceincluding: a flexible display panel; a flexible plate disposed at a rearof the display panel and coupled to the display panel; a driving moduledisposed at a rear of the plate and including a moving block that movesin a reciprocating motion on the lead screw; sliding mounts spaced apartfrom the driving module and fixed to the rear of the plate; a slidebracket movably coupled to the sliding mounts; wings elongated with afirst end coupled to the moving block and a second end coupled to theslide bracket, and having pivot shafts disposed adjacent to the movingblock between the moving block and the slid bracket; and wing bracketsconnected with the pivot shafts and fixed to the rear of the plate.

Effects of the Invention

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure,a structure capable of freely changing a curvature of a display panelmay be provided.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure,a mechanism capable of freely changing a curvature of a display may beprovided.

Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the presentdisclosure, are given by illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 29 are diagrams illustrating examples of a display deviceaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to designate the same orsimilar components, and a redundant description thereof will be omitted.

The terms “module” and “unit” for elements used in the followingdescription are given simply in view of the ease of the description, anddo not have a distinguishing meaning or role. It will be noted that adetailed description of known arts will be omitted if it is determinedthat the detailed description of the known arts can obscure theembodiments of the invention. Further, the accompanying drawings areused to help easily understand various technical features and it shouldbe understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited bythe accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should beconstrued to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes inaddition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanyingdrawings.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc., maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyconnected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are nointervening elements present.

As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It should be understood that the terms “comprise”, ‘include”, “have”,etc. when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, orcombinations of them but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, or combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, a display panel will be described by using an Organic LightEmitting Diode (OLED) as an example, but a display panel applicable tothe present disclosure is not limited to the OLED panel.

In addition, in the following description, the display device mayinclude a first long side LS1, a second long side LS2 opposite the firstlong side LS1, a first short side SS1 adjacent to one end of each of thefirst long side LS1 and the second long side LS2, and a second shortside SS2 opposite the first short side SS1.

Here, an area of the first short side SS1 may be referred to as a firstside area; an area of the second short side SS2 may be referred to as asecond side area opposite to the first side area; an area of the firstlong side LS1 may be referred to as a third side area adjacent to thefirst side area and the second side area and disposed between the firstside area and the second side area; and an area of the second long sideLS2 may be referred to as a fourth side area adjacent to the first sidearea and the second side area, disposed between the first side area andthe second side area, and opposite to the third side area.

For convenience of explanation, it is illustrated and described that thefirst and second long sides LS1 and LS2 are longer than the first andsecond short sides SS1 and SS2, but it is also possible that the lengthsof the first and second long sides LS1 and LS2 may be approximatelyequal to the lengths of the first and second short sides SS1 and SS2.

In the following description, a first direction DR1 may be a directionparallel to the long sides LS1 and LS2 of the display device, and asecond direction DR2 may be a direction parallel to the short sides SS1and SS2 of the display device. A third direction DR3 may be a directionperpendicular to the first direction DR1 and/or the second directionDR2.

The first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 may be collectivelyreferred to as a horizontal direction. Further, the third direction DR3may be referred to as a vertical direction.

A side or a surface, on which the display device displays an image, maybe referred to as a front side or a front surface. When the displaydevice displays an image, a side or a surface, at which the image cannotbe observed, may be referred to as a rear side or a rear surface. Whenthe display device is viewed from the front side or the front surface,the first long side LS1 may be referred to as an upper side or an uppersurface, and the second long side LS2 may be referred to as a lower sideor a lower surface. Likewise, the first short side SS1 may be referredto as a left side or a left surface, and the second short side SS2 maybe referred to as a right side or a right surface.

The first long side LS1, the second long side LS2, the first short sideSS1, and the second short side SS2 may be referred to as edges of thedisplay device. Further, positions where the first long side LS1, thesecond long side LS2, the first short side SS1, and the second shortside SS2 meet each other may be referred to as corners. For example, aposition where the first long side LS1 and the first short side SS1 meeteach other may be referred to as a first corner C1; a position where thefirst long side LS1 and the second short side SS2 meet each other may bereferred to as a second corner C2; a position where the second shortside SS2 and the second long side LS2 meet each other may be referred toas a third corner C3; and a position where the second long side LS2 andthe first short side SS1 meet each other may be referred to as a fourthcorner C4.

Here, a direction from the first short side SS1 to the second short sideSS2 or a direction from the second short side SS2 to the first shortside SS1 may be referred to as a left-right direction LR. A directionfrom the first long side LS1 to the second long side LS2 or a directionfrom the second long side LS2 to the first long side LS1 may be referredto as an up-down direction UD.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a display panel 110 may be coupled to a plate 120.The plate 120 may be flexible. The plate 120 may be referred to as aflexible plate 120, a frame 120, or a module cover 120. The displaypanel 110 may be disposed on a front side or a front surface of theplate 120. The display panel 110 may be flexible. For example, thedisplay panel 110 may be an OLED panel.

The display panel 110 may be provided on a front surface of a displaydevice 100 and may display an image. The display panel 110 may dividethe image into a plurality of pixels and may output the image whilecontrolling color, brightness, and chroma of the respective pixels. Thedisplay panel 110 may generate light corresponding to red, green, orblue color in response to a control signal.

The display device 100 may have a variable curvature. The left and rightsides of the display device 100 may move forward. For example, when animage is viewed from the front side of the display device 100, thedisplay device 100 may be curved concavely. In this case, the plate 120may be curved with the same curvature as the display panel 110.Alternatively, the display panel 110 may be curved corresponding to thecurvature of the plate 120.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the plate 120 may be coupled to the rear ofthe display panel 110. The plate 120 may support the display panel 110at the rear of the display panel 110. The plate 120 may have a shapecorresponding to the display panel 110.

A driving module 130 may be coupled to the rear of the plate 120. Afront bracket 130F, a rear bracket 130R, and wing brackets 131 and 132may be disposed at the rear of the plate 120. The front bracket 130F maybe coupled or fixed to a rear surface of the plate 120. The rear bracket130R may be disposed at the rear of the front bracket 130F, may bespaced apart from the front bracket 130F, and may face the front bracket130F.

The wing brackets 131 and 132 may include bracket frames 131 a and 132 aand wing holders 131 b and 132 b. The bracket frames 131 a and 132 a maybe in the shape of a rectangular box. The wing holders 131 b and 132 bmay be formed on one side of the bracket frames 131 a and 132 a. Thewing holders 131 b and 132 b may protrude from one surface of thebracket frames 131 a and 132 a. The wing holders 131 b and 132 b mayform a pair. The pair of wing holders 131 b and 132 b may be disposedopposite each other.

There may be a plurality of wing brackets 131 and 132. The plurality ofwing brackets 131 and 132 may include a first wing bracket 131 and asecond wing bracket 132. The first wing bracket 131 may be coupled orfixed to the front bracket 130F and/or the rear bracket 130R and may bedisposed opposite the second wing bracket 132 with respect to the frontbracket 130F. The second wing bracket 132 may also be coupled or fixedto the front bracket 130F and/or the rear bracket 130R.

Wings 141 and 142 may include blades 141 a and 142 a, necks 141 b and142 b, and levers 141 c and 142 c. For example, the wings 141 and 142may be made of metal. In another example, the wings 141 and 142 may bemade of an aluminum alloy. The blades 141 a and 142 a may be elongatedplates and may include ribs for providing rigidity. The levers 141 c and142 c and the necks 141 b and 142 b may be formed at one end of theblades 141 a and 142 a. The necks 141 b and 142 b, disposed between thelevers 141 c and 142 c and the blades 141 a and 142 a, may connect thelevers 141 c and 142 c and the blades 141 a and 142 a. A width of thenecks 141 b and 142 b may be smaller than a width of the levers 141 cand 142 c, and a width of the levers 141 c and 142 c may be smaller thana width of the blades 141 a and 142 a. Pivot shafts 141 p and 142 p maybe formed in the necks 141 b and 142 b. The pivot shafts 141 p and 142 pmay be inserted into the wing holders 131 b and 132 b. The wings 141 and142 may pivot about the pivot shafts 141 p and 142 p and the wingholders 131 b and 132 b.

The first wing 141 may be rotatably or pivotally coupled to the firstwing bracket 131, and the second wing 142 may be rotatably or pivotallycoupled to the second wing bracket 132. The first wing 141 may besymmetric to the second wing 142 with respect to a driving unit 130.

Sliding mounts 151 and 152 may be coupled or fixed to a rear side or arear surface of the plate 120. A first sliding mount 151 may be disposedadjacent to a left side of the plate 120, and a second sliding mount 152may be disposed adjacent to a right side of the plate 120. A distal endof the first wing 141 may be movably coupled to the first sliding mount151. A distal end of the second wing 142 may be movably coupled to thesecond sliding mount 152.

A flip frame 133 may be disposed between the lever 141 c of the firstwing 141 and the lever 142 c of the second wing 142 and may be coupledto the levers 141 c and 142 c. For example, the flip frame 133 may bemade of metal. The flip frame 133 may include a first frame 133 a and asecond frame 133 b. For example, the first frame 133 a may have aU-shape, and the second frame 133 b may have a U-shape. The first frame133 a may be pivotally connected with the second frame 133 b. A pivotpin 133 c may pass through the first frame 133 a and the second frame133 b to connect the first frame 133 a and the second frame 133 b. Thefirst frame 133 a may pivot with respect to the second frame 133 b, andthe second frame 133 b may pivot with respect to the first frame 133 a.The first frame 133 a may be fixed or coupled to the lever 141 c of thefirst wing 141, and the second frame 133 b may be fixed or coupled tothe lever 142 c of the second wing 142.

A moving block 134 may be disposed inside the flip frame 133. The movingblock 134 may be disposed between the first frame 133 a and the secondframe 133 b of the flip frame 133.

A lead screw 135 may be inserted into the moving block 134. The movingblock 134 may be moved on the lead screw 135 by rotation of the leadscrew 135. By rotation and reverse rotation of the lead screw 135, themoving block 134 may perform a reciprocating motion on the lead screw135.

The lead screw 135 may be coupled to the driving gear 136 and may rotatetogether with the driving gear 136. The driving gear 136 may rotatewhile facing a rear surface of the plate 120 (see FIG. 2 ). The leadscrew 135 may be a rotating shaft of the driving gear 136. A bearing Bmay be coupled to one end and/or both ends of the lead screw 135. Thelead screw 135 may rotate with the one end being inserted into a frontbearing B and the other end being inserted into a rear bearing B. Forexample, the lead screw 135 may be press-fit into the front bearing Band the rear bearing B.

A motor 137 may be disposed under the moving block 134. The motor 137may provide torque. A gear box 138 may transmit the torque of the motor137 to the driving gear 136.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , a first gear 138 a may be fixed to arotating shaft 137 a of the motor 137 to rotate together with therotating shaft 137 a of the motor 137. For example, the first gear 138 amay be a worm. A second gear 138 b may be engaged with the first gear138 a. For example, the second gear 138 may be a worm gear.

The first gear 138 a and the second gear 138 b may be disposed in thegear box 138. A transmission gear 138 c may be disposed outside the gearbox 138. The transmission gear 138 c may be fixed to the rotating shaft137 a of the second gear 138 b and may rotate together with the secondgear 138 b. The transmission gear 138 c may be engaged with the drivinggear 136.

The lead screw 135 may be a rotating shaft of the driving gear 136. Thedriving gear 136 may be fixed to the lead screw 135. The driving gear136 may be coupled to the lead screw 135 by a pin.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the lead screw 135 may include a shaft body 135 aand a screw 135 b. The shaft body 135 a may be in the shape of anelongated cylinder, and the screw 135 b may be formed on an outercircumferential surface of the shaft body 135 a. The moving block 134may include a moving body 134 a and a sliding block 134 b. For example,the moving body 134 a may be made of metal, and the sliding block 134 bmay be made of a synthetic resin. The sliding block 134 b may bedisposed inside the moving body 134 a. The sliding block 134 b may bescrew-coupled to the lead screw 135.

The lead screw 135 may be inserted into the sliding block 134 b. Thesliding block 134 b may be moved on the lead screw 135 by the rotationof the lead screw 135. Clearance may be formed between an innercircumferential surface of the sliding block 134 b and the screw 135 bof the lead screw 135, thereby preventing the moving block 134 frombeing caught or locked while moving on the lead screw 135.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the moving body 134 a may include an outer part134 a 1 and an inner part 134 a 2. The outer part 134 a 1 may form anouter surface of the moving body 134 a. The inner part 134 a 2 may becoupled to the inside of the outer part 134 a 1. For example, the outerpart 134 a 1 may be a U-shaped metal plate, and the inner part 134 a 2may be a metal shell having an inner receiving space. The sliding block134 b may be coupled to the inside of the inner part 134 a 2.

A pivot pin 133 c may protrude and extend from the outer part 134 a 1 ofthe moving body 134 a. The first frame 133 a and the second frame 133 bof the flip frame 133 may include holes 133H1 and 133H2. The pivot pin133 c may be inserted into the hole 133H2 of the second frame 133 b andthe hole 133H1 of the first frame 133 a. A disc 133 d may be disposedbetween the first frame 133 a and the second frame 133 b, and the pivotpin 133 c may be inserted into a hole 133 dH of the disk 133 d. Forexample, the disk 133 d may be made of a material having high durabilityand low friction characteristics.

An intermediate member 139 may be disposed between the moving body 134a, the pivot pin 133 c, and the flip frame 133. The intermediate member139 may cover an upper surface of the moving body 134 a and an outersurface of the pivot pin 133 c. The intermediate member 139 may bereferred to as a low friction member 139 or a lubricating member 139. Inaddition, the intermediate member 139 may be referred to as a skinmember 139.

The intermediate member 139 may include a body part 139 a and a flangepart 139 b. The body part 139 a may have a cylindrical shape. The pivotpin 133 c may be inserted into the body part 139 a. The body part 139 amay make contact with the outer surface of the pivot pin 133 c, and theflange part 139 b may make contact with the upper surface of the movingbody 134 a. The intermediate member 139 may be made of a synthetic resinhaving low friction characteristics. The intermediate member 139 may bemade of a low friction material. For example, the intermediate member139 may be made of polyoxymethylene (POM, acetal homopolymer). The firstframe 133 a and the second frame 133 b of the flip frame 133 may moveabout the pivot pin 133 c while making contact with or rubbing againstthe intermediate member 139.

The intermediate member 139 may fill a gap between the pivot pin 133 cand the hole 133H1 of the first frame 133 a of the flip frame 133. Theintermediate member 139 may fill a gap between the pivot pin 133 c andthe hole 133H2 of the second frame 133 b of the flip frame 133. Thesecond frame 133 b of the flip frame 133 may be placed on theintermediate member 139. Accordingly, the pivot pin 133 c may transmitforce to the flip frame 133 without causing noise or vibrations.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the lead screw 135 rotates, the movingblock 134 and the flip frame 133 may move on the lead screw 135. Theflip frame 133 may perform a reciprocating motion in a longitudinaldirection of the lead screw 135. The movement of the flip frame 133allows the first wing 141 and/or the second wing 142 to pivot about thepivot shafts 141P and 142P.

A first distance D1 from the pivot pin 133 c to the pivot shafts 141Pand 142P may be smaller than a second distance D2 from the pivot shafts141P and 142P to the sliding mounts 151 and 152. For example, the firstdistance D1 may be one-fourth of the second distance D2. The levers 141c and 142 c of the wings 141 and 142 are fixed to the flip frame 133,and when the pivot pin 133 c moves, the flip frame 133 moves togetherwith the pivot pin 133 c, such that a driving force of the moving block134, moving on the lead screw 135, may be transmitted efficiently to thelevers 141 c and 142 c of the wings 141 and 142 via the flip frame 133.

In addition, as the levers 141 c and 142 c of the wings 141 and 142 arefixed to the flip frame 133 and move together with the flip frame 133,the first distance D1 increases such that less force is required todrive the wings 141 and 142, thereby increasing power transmissionefficiency of the driving unit 130 and reducing power consumption of themotor 137.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 , an elastic member 101 may include a firstpart 101 a, a second part 101 b, and a third part 101 c. The elasticmember 101 may be referred to as a first elastic member 101 or a clip101. The first part 101 a may be a plate. The second part 101 b may bebent and extend from the first part 101 a. The third part 101 c may bebent and extend from the second part 101 b. The third part 101 c mayface the first part 101 a. A second angle formed between the second part101 b and the third part 101 c may be greater than a first angle formedbetween the first part 101 a and the second part 101 b. In the extendingdirection, the third part 101 c may be longer than the first part 101 a.The elastic member 101 may be a metal plate and may have elasticity. Forexample, the elastic member 101 may be a leaf spring.

A coupling hole 101H1 may be formed in the first part 101 a. There maybe a plurality of coupling holes 101H1. A support rib 101R may be formedon the third part 101 c. The support rib 101R may be elongated in thedirection in which the third part 101 c extends. There may be aplurality of support ribs 101R. The support ribs 101R may protrude froman outer surface of the third part 101 c. The plurality of support ribs101R may be parallel to each other.

The elastic member 101 may be inserted between the moving block 134 andthe levers 141 c and 142 c of the wings 141 and 142. The first part 101a of the elastic member 101 may be fixed to the levers 141 c and 142 cof the wings 141 and 142. For example, the first part 101 a of theelastic member 101 may be screw-coupled to the levers 141 c and 142 c ofthe wings 141 and 142. The third part 101 c of the elastic member 101may support the moving block 134. The third part 101 c of the elasticmember 101 may make contact with a side surface of the moving block 134.The third part 101 c of the elastic member 101 may make contact with theouter part 134 a 1 and/or the inner part 134 a 2 of the moving body 134a. The outer part 134 a 1 and/or the inner part 134 a 2 of the movingbody 134 a, making contact with the third part 101 c of the elasticmember 101, may be rounded. The support ribs 101R formed on the thirdpart 101 c of the elastic member 101 may make contact with the innerpart 134 a 2 of the moving block 134.

There may be a plurality of elastic members 101. Each of the pluralityof elastic members 101 may be inserted between the moving block 134 andthe lever 141 c of the first wing 141 and between the moving block 134and the lever 142 c of the second wing 142.

In a mechanism in which the flip frame 133 flips or pivots about thepivot pin 133 c, clearance may be formed between the pivot pin 133 c ofthe moving block 134 and the holes 133H1 and 133H2 (see FIG. 7 ) of theflip frame 133. The elastic member 101 may push the moving block 134 inone direction. As the elastic member 101 pushes the moving block 134 inone direction, the pivot pin 133 c of the moving block 134 may bepressed against one side of the holes 133H1 and 133H2 of the flip frame133.

Accordingly, in the entire region in which the moving block 134 moves onthe lead screw 134, the moving block 134 may transmit force to the flipframe 133. In a mechanism in which the moving block 134 transmits forceto the flip frame 133, clearance between the components may cause thedisplay panel 110 to temporarily stop bending. In this embodiment of thepresent disclosure, continuous bending of the display panel 110 may beperformed.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13 , an elastic member 102 may include a leverpart 120 a, support parts 102 d and 102 e, and coil parts 102 b and 102c. The elastic member 102 may be formed as a wire. The elastic member102 may be referred to as a second elastic member 102.

The lever part 102 a may be a wire bent in a U-shape. The coil parts 102b and 102 c may be connected to the lever part 102 a. There may be aplurality of coil parts 102 b and 102 c. A first coil part 102 b may beconnected to a first end of the lever part 102 a, and the second coilpart 102 c may be connected to a second end of the lever part 102 a.There may be a plurality of support parts 102 d and 102 e. A firstsupport part 102 d may form a distal end of the first coil part 102 b,and the second support part 102 e may form a distal end of the secondcoil part 102 c.

When the support parts 102 d and 102 e are fixed, the lever part 102 amay rotate or pivot about the coil parts 102 b and 102 c. The coil parts102 b and 102 c may provide elasticity to the lever part 102 a.

The elastic member 102 may be disposed on the wing bracket 132. Thesupport parts 102 d and 102 e of the elastic member 102 may be fixed tothe bracket frame 132 a of the wing bracket 132. The lever part 102 a ofthe elastic member 102 may be supported by the lever 142 c of the wing142.

The wing 142 may include a support groove 142 c 2 and a friction pad 142c 1. The support groove 142 c 2 may be formed at a positioncorresponding to a portion of a length of the lever part 102 a of theelastic member 102. The friction pad 142 c 1 may be formed on thesupport groove 142 c 2. The friction pad 142 c 1 may protrude from thesupport groove 142 c 2 and a surface of the friction pad 142 c 1 may besmoothly polished.

When the wings 141 and 142 are pivotally coupled to the wing brackets131 and 132, clearance may be formed between the pivot shafts 141 p and142 p of the wings 141 and 142 and the wing holders 131 b and 132 b ofthe wing brackets 131 and 132. In a mechanism in which the moving block134 transmits force to the flip frame 133 to allow the wings 141 and 142to bend the display panel 110, the clearance between the components maycause the display panel 110 to temporarily stop bending. The wings 141and 142 may receive force from the elastic member 102 in a forwarddirection of the display device 100, thereby allowing for continuousbending of the display panel 110. In addition, power consumption of themotor 137 required to bend the display panel 110 may be reduced.

In addition, as the sliding block 134 b (see FIG. 6 ) is screw-coupledto the lead screw 135, clearance may be formed to allow the slidingblock 134 b to move on the lead screw 135 s. As the elastic member 102pushes the wings 141 and 142 to press the sliding block 134 b in onedirection of the lead screw 135, continuous bending of the display panel110 may be performed. Further, when the torque of the motor 137 and thelead screw 135 is released while the display panel 110 is in a flatshape, flatness of the display panel 110 may be changed. In thisembodiment, the display panel 110 may remain flat and/or curved with apredetermined curvature.

Referring to FIGS. 14 , the flip frame 133 may have the holes 133H1 and133H2. The holes 133H1 and 133H2 may be formed adjacent to a distal endof the first frame 133 a and/or the second frame 133 b of the flip frame133. The holes 133H1 and 133H2 may be long holes 133H1 and 133H2 havinga major axis and a minor axis. The major axis of the holes 133H1 and133H2 may be parallel to a longitudinal direction of the frame 133. Theminor axis of the holes 133H1 and 133H2 may cross the longitudinaldirection of the frame 133.

Referring to FIGS. 15 to 17 , the pivot pin 133 c may be inserted intothe holes 133H1 and 133H2 of the flip frame 133, and the moving block134 may move on the lead screw 135. As the moving block 134 moves on thelead screw 135, the display panel 110 changes from a flat screen (seeFIG. 15 ) to a curved screen (see FIG. 16 ), in which the display panel110 may be curved with a constant curvature (see FIG. 17 ).

When the display panel 110 starts to become curved after being in a flatshape, or when the display panel 110, after being curved with apredetermined curvature, becomes flat as a radius of curvature becomesgreater than a predetermined radius of curvature, a moving direction ofthe moving block 134 may be changed. That is, at a start point and anend point of the moving block 134, the display panel 110 may be flat ormay be curved with a predetermined curvature.

When the moving direction of the moving block 134 is changed at thestart point and/or the end point, a direction in which the pivot pin 133c applies force to the holes 133H1 and 133H2 of the flip frame 133 maybe changed. As the direction in which the pivot pin 133 c applies forceto the holes 133H1 and 133H2 of the flip frame 133 is changed, clearanceformed between the pivot pin 133 c and the holes 133H1 and 133H2 of theflip frame 133 may stop the continuity of change in curvature of thedisplay panel 110.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , the major axis of the holes 133H1 and133H2 of the flip frame 133 may form an angle θ with respect to alongitudinal direction of the flip frame 133. For example, the angle θmay correspond to an angle θ formed between the pivot shafts 141 p and142 p of the wings 141 and 142 (see FIG. 8 ) and the start point or theend point of the moving block 134 with respect to a line connecting thepivot shafts 141 p and 142 p of the wings 141 and 142.

As the holes 133H1 and 133H2 of the flip frame 133 move closer to thestart point or the end point of the moving block 134, the major axis ofthe holes 133H1 and 133H2 of the flip frame 133 may become parallel to abaseline connecting the pivot shafts 141 p and 142 p of the wings 141and 142 of the moving block 134. When a moving direction of the pivotpin 133 c is changed, the moving direction of the pivot pin 133 c may bealigned with a direction of the minor axis of the holes 133H1 and 133H2of the flip frame 133.

When the moving direction of the pivot pin 133 c is changed such thatthe moving direction of the pivot pin 133 c is aligned with the minoraxis of the holes 133H1 and 133H2 of the flip frame 133, clearanceformed between the pivot pin 133 c and the holes 133H1 and 133H2 of theflip frame 133 may be minimized. Accordingly, by the movement and/ordirection change of the moving block 134, the pivot pin 133 c maycontinuously transmit power or force to the flip frame 133.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21 , a first sliding mount 151 may be fixed tothe rear surface of the plate 120 at a position adjacent to the firstshort side SS1 of the plate 120. The second sliding mount 152 may befixed to the rear surface of the plate 120 at a position adjacent to thesecond short side SS2 of the plate 120.

The driving module 130 may be disposed between the first sliding mount151 and the second sliding mount 152 and may be coupled to the rearsurface of the plate 120. The first wing 141 may have a first endpivotally connected to the driving module 130 and a second end coupledto the first sliding mount 151. The second end of the first wing 151 maymove on the first sliding mount 151. The second wing 142 may have afirst end pivotally connected to the driving module 130 and a second endcoupled to the second sliding mount 152. The second end of the secondwing 142 may move on the second sliding mount 152.

A PCB plate 159 may be disposed at the rear of the driving module 130.The PCB plate 159 may be fixed to the rear bracket 130R (see FIG. 2 ) ofthe driving module 130. Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) may be coupled tothe PCB plate 159.

A side cover 200 may form a wall around the sides of the driving module130. For example, the side cover 200 may be a square frame. A back cover(not shown) may be coupled to the side cover 200 while covering thedriving module 130.

A slide bracket 160 may be coupled or fixed to distal ends of the wings141 and 142. The slide bracket 160 may include a body 161 having anelongated plate shape and protrusions 162 and 163 formed adjacent toboth ends of the body 161. The protrusions 162 and 163 may be referredto as friction protrusions 162 and 163 or contact protrusions 162 and163. For example, the slide bracket 160 may be made of metal.

The body 161 may include a center part and a side part. The center partmay face or overlap the wings 141 and 142. The side part may be formedon one side or both sides of the center part and may be exposed to theoutside of the wings 141 and 142. The protrusions 162 and 163 may beformed on the side part of the body 161.

There may be a plurality of protrusions 162 and 163. The plurality ofprotrusions 162 and 163 may include front protrusions 163 and rearprotrusions 162. The front protrusions 163 may be formed at the firstcorner C1 and/or the fourth corner C4 of the body 161. The frontprotrusions 163 may protrude by being pressed toward the front of thebody 161. The front protrusions 163 may have a dome shape or ahemispherical shape. The rear protrusions 162 may be formed at thesecond corner C2 and/or the third corner C3 of the body 161. The rearprotrusions 162 may protrude by being pressed toward the rear of thebody 161. The rear protrusions 162 may have a dome shape or ahemispherical shape. The rear protrusions 162 may be adjacent to thefront protrusions 163. The front protrusions 163 and the rearprotrusions 162 may be disposed sequentially along the short side of thebody 161. One first pair of the front protrusion 163 and the rearprotrusion 162 may be disposed opposite another pair of the frontprotrusion 163 and the rear protrusion 162 with respect to the wings 141and 142.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23 , the slide bracket 160 may be coupled tothe guide cover 170. The slide bracket 160 may be inserted into theguide cover 170 and may move on the guide cover 170. For example, theguide cover 170 may be made of a synthetic resin having low frictionalforce. The guide cover 170 may be made of a low friction material. Forexample, the guide cover 170 may be made of polyoxymethylene (POM,acetal homopolymer).

The guide cover 170 may include a base 171, a side rail 172, and afixing plate 173. The base 171 may have an elongated plate shape and mayface the slide bracket 160. The side rail 172 may be formed at both endsof the base 171. The side rail 172 may include a lower part 172L and anupper part 172U. The lower part 172L may extend from the base 171.

A lower trench 172LT may be formed in the lower part 172L. The lowertrench 172LT may be formed in the lower part 172L as an upper surface ofthe lower part 172L is recessed inward in an elongated shape. Forexample, the lower trench 172LT may be in the shape of a half pipe. Thefront protrusion 163 of the slide bracket 160 may move on the lowertrench 172LT. A radius of curvature of the front protrusion 163 may besmaller than a radius of curvature of the lower trench 172LT.Accordingly, the front protrusion 163 may make point contact with thelower trench 172LT.

The upper part 172U may be spaced apart from the lower part 172LT andmay face the lower part 172L. A gap may be formed between the upper part172U and the lower part 172L, and the slide bracket 160 may be insertedinto the gap. An upper trench 172UT may be formed in the upper part172U. The upper trench 172UT may be formed in the upper part 172UT as alower surface of the upper part 172U is recessed inward in an elongatedshape. For example, the upper trench 172UT may be in the shape of a halfpipe. The rear protrusion 162 of the slide bracket 160 may move on thelower trench 172LT. A radius of curvature of the rear protrusion 162 maybe smaller than a radius of curvature of the upper trench 172UT.Accordingly, the rear protrusion 162 may make point contact with theupper trench 172UT.

As the slide bracket 160 and the guide cover 170 are coupled to eachother, it is possible to prevent drooping or sagging of the wings 141and 142 due to self-weight.

The slide bracket 160 may include a coupling part 161 a and a PEM nut161 b or a coupling protrusion 161 b for coupling with the wings 141 and142. The guide cover 170 may include a PEM nut 170 b or a couplingprotrusion 170 b for coupling with the sliding mounts 151 and 152.

Referring to FIGS. 24 to 26 , the slide bracket 160 may be coupled tofront surfaces of the wing blades 141 a and 142 b at a position adjacentto the distal ends of the wings 141 and 142. The guide cover 170 may befixed to the sliding mounts 151 and 152. The slide bracket 160 may beinserted into the guide cover 170 and may move on the guide cover 170while performing a reciprocating motion in a longitudinal direction ofthe wings 141 and 142.

When the display panel 110 becomes flat after being curved with apredetermined curvature, the slide bracket 160 may move on the guidecover 170 toward the short sides SS1 and SS2 of the plate 120. The frontprotrusion 163 may move on the lower trench 172LT. The front protrusion163 may move on the lower trench 172LT while making contact with orrubbing smoothly against a surface of the lower trench 172LT. The rearprotrusion 162 may move on the upper trench 172UT while making contactwith or rubbing smoothly against a surface of the upper trench 172UT.

When the display panel 110 changes from flat to curved with apredetermined curvature, the slide bracket 160 may move on the guidecover 170 from the short sides SS1 and SS2 of the plate 120 toward thedriving module 130. The front protrusion 163 may move on the lowertrench 172LT. The front protrusion 163 may move on the lower trench172LT while making contact with or rubbing smoothly against the surfaceof the lower trench 172LT. The rear protrusion 162 may move on the uppertrench 172UT while making contact with or rubbing smoothly against thesurface of the upper trench 172UT.

As the protrusions 162 and 163 make point contact with the trenches172LT and 172UT, it is possible to reduce friction and abrasion causedby the friction, and no lubricant is required, thereby improvingstructural durability of a mechanism.

Referring to FIG. 27 , the lower trench 172LT may include a firstinclined surface 172 a and a second inclined surface 172 b, and theupper trench 172UT may include a third inclined surface 172 c and afourth inclined surface 172 d. The first inclined surface 172 a may forma first angle θ1 with respect to a base surface LB. The second inclinedsurface 172 b may form a second angle θ2 with respect to the basesurface LB. The second inclined surface 172 b may make contact with thefirst inclined surface 172 a.

The third inclined surface 172 c may form a third angle θ3 with respectto the base surface UB. The fourth inclined surface 172 d may form afourth angle θ4 with respect to the base UB. The fourth inclined surface172 d may be in contact with the third inclined surface 172 c. Aboundary between the third inclined surface 172 c and the fourthinclined surface 172 d may correspond to or may be aligned with aboundary between the first inclined surface 172 a and the secondinclined surface 172 b. For example, the boundary between the thirdinclined surface 172 c and the fourth inclined surface 172 d may bevertically aligned on the same line as the boundary between the firstinclined surface 172 a and the second inclined surface 172 b.

The second angle θ2 may be greater than the first angle θ1. The thirdangle θ3 may be greater than the fourth angle θ4. The first inclinedsurface 172 a may be longer than the second inclined surface 172 b. Thefourth inclined surface 172 d may be longer than the third inclinedsurface 172 c. The third inclined surface 172 c may face the firstinclined surface 172 a, and the second inclined surface 172 b may facethe fourth inclined surface 172 d.

Referring to FIG. 28 along with FIG. 24 , the slide bracket 160, towhich the wing 140 is coupled, may be inserted into or coupled to theguide cover 170 and the sliding mounts 151 and 152. As the wings 151 and152 move by pivoting about the driving module 130, the slide bracket 160may move on the guide cover 170 in a longitudinal direction of the wing140.

When the wing 140 causes the display panel 110 to bend from flat tocurved, the slide bracket 160 may move from the first inclined surface172 a to the second inclined surface 172 b. When the wing 140 causes thedisplay panel 110, which is curved with a predetermined curvature, tobecome flat, the slide bracket 160 may move from the second inclinedsurface 172 b to the first inclined surface 172 a.

Referring to FIG. 28 along with FIG. 25 , while the wing 140 causes thedisplay panel 110 to bend from flat to curved, the front protrusion 163of the slide bracket 160 may slide in contact with the lower trench172LT. The front protrusion 163 may press and rub against the lowertrench 172LT. The rear protrusion 162 may slide in contact with theupper trench 172UT or may slide while being supported by the uppertrench 172UT.

While the wing 140 causes the display panel 110, which is curved with apredetermined curvature, to become flat, the front protrusion 163 of theslide bracket 160 may slide in contact with the lower trench 172LT ormay slide while being supported by the lower trench 172LT. The rearprotrusion 162 may slide in contact with the upper trench 172UT or mayslide while being supported by the upper trench 172UT.

Accordingly, when the display panel 110 is curved, the display panel 110curved with a predetermined curvature may have a constant curvature or acurvature close to the constant curvature.

Referring to FIG. 29 along with FIG. 2 , as the lead screw 135 isrotated by the torque provided by the motor 137, the flip frame 133moves in a longitudinal direction of the lead screw 135, such that thewing 140 may pivot about the pivot shafts 141P and 142P.

When the wing 140 pivots, the slide bracket 160 moves on the slidingmounts 151 and 152 (see FIG. 24 ) and the guide cover 170 while pushingboth short sides of the display panel 110 and the plate 120 to bend thedisplay panel 110.

When the lead screw 135 is reversely rotated, the flip frame 133 movesin a reverse direction of the lead screw 135, such that the wing 140 maypivot about the pivot shafts 141P and 142P in an opposite direction.

When the wing 140 pivots in the opposite direction, the slide bracket160 moves on the sliding mounts 151 and 152 and the guide cover 170while pulling both short sides of the display panel 110 and the plate120 to flatten the display panel 110.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 29 , a display device includes: a flexibledisplay panel 110; a flexible plate 120 disposed at a rear of thedisplay panel 110 and coupled to the display panel 110; a driving module130 disposed at a rear of the plate 120 and including a moving block 134that moves in a reciprocating motion on the lead screw 135; slidingmounts 151 and 152 spaced apart from the driving module 130 and fixed tothe rear of the plate 120; a slide bracket 160 movably coupled to thesliding mounts 151 and 152; wings 141 and 142 elongated with a first endcoupled to the moving block 134 and a second end coupled to the slidebracket 160, and having pivot shafts 141P and 142P disposed adjacent tothe moving block 134 between the moving block 134 and the slid bracket160; and wing brackets 131 and 132 connected with the pivot shafts 141Pand 142P and fixed to the rear of the plate 120.

The display device may further include a guide cover 170 which is fixedto the sliding mounts 151 and 152, and on which the slide bracket 160moves.

The slide bracket 160 may include: a body 161 including a center partoverlapping the wings 141 and 142 and a side part extending from oneside of the center part; and a front protrusion 163 formed on the sidepart of the body 161 and protruding from one surface of the body 161toward the plate 120, wherein the front protrusion 163 may be supportedby the guide cover 170.

The slide bracket 160 may further include a rear protrusion 162 formedon the side part of the body at a position adjacent to the frontprotrusion 163, and protruding from another surface of the body 161 in adirection opposite the front protrusion 163, wherein the rear protrusion162 may be supported by the guide cover 170.

The guide cover 170 may include: a base 171 facing the center part ofthe body 161 of the slide bracket 160; and a side rail 172 which isformed at one side of the base 171 and in which the side part of thebody 161 of the slide bracket 160 is inserted, wherein the frontprotrusion 163 and the rear protrusion 162 may move on the side rail172.

The side rail 172 may include: a lower part 172L extending from the base161 and facing the side part of the body 161 of the slide bracket 160;and an upper part 172U disposed opposite the lower part 172L withrespect to the body 161 of the slide bracket 160, wherein the frontprotrusion 163 may be supported by the lower part 172L, and the rearprotrusion 162 may be supported by the upper part 172U.

The lower part 172L of the side rail 172 may include a lower trench172LT recessed toward an inside of the lower part 172L, such that thefront protrusion 163 may move on the lower trench 172LT; and the upperpart 172U of the side rail 172 may include an upper trench 172UTrecessed toward an inside of the upper part 172U, such that the rearprotrusion 162 may move on the upper trench 172UT.

The front protrusion 163 may make point contact with the lower trench172LT, and the rear protrusion 162 may make point contact with the uppertrench 172UT.

The lower trench 172LT may include a first inclined surface 172 a havinga first angle θ1 with respect to a base surface LB, and a secondinclined surface 172 b having a second angle θ2 with respect to the basesurface LB and forming a boundary with the first inclined surface 172 a;and the upper trench 172UT may include a third inclined surface 172 chaving a third angle θ3 with respect to a base surface UB, and a fourthinclined surface 172 d having a fourth angle θ4 with respect to the basesurface UB and forming a boundary with the third inclined surface 172 c.

The second angle θ2 may be greater than the first angle θ1, and thethird angle θ3 may be greater than the fourth angle θ4.

The first inclined surface 172 a may face the third inclined surface 172c, and the second inclined surface 172 b may face the fourth inclinedsurface 172 d.

The slide bracket 160 may include metal, and the guide cover 170 mayinclude a synthetic resin.

Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the invention describedabove are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. Any or allelements of the embodiments of the invention described above may becombined or combined with each other in configuration or function.

For example, a configuration “A” described in one embodiment of theinvention and the drawings and a configuration “B” described in anotherembodiment of the invention and the drawings may be combined with eachother. Namely, although the combination between the configurations isnot directly described, the combination is possible except in the casewhere it is described that the combination is impossible.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the scope of the principles of thisdisclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications arepossible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a flexible display panel; a flexible plate disposed at a rear of the display panel and coupled to the display panel; a driving module disposed at a rear of the plate and including a moving block that moves in a reciprocating motion on a lead screw; a sliding mount spaced apart from the driving module and fixed to the rear of the plate; a slide bracket movably coupled to the sliding mount; a wing elongated with a first end coupled to the moving block and a second end coupled to the slide bracket, and having pivot shafts disposed adjacent to the moving block between the moving block and the slid bracket; and a wing bracket connected with the pivot shafts and fixed to the rear of the plate.
 2. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a guide cover fixed to the sliding mount, wherein the slide bracket moves on the guide cover.
 3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the slide bracket comprises: a body including a center part overlapping the wing and a side part extending from one side of the center part; and a front protrusion formed on the side part of the body and protruding from one surface of the body toward the plate, wherein the front protrusion is supported by the guide cover.
 4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the slide bracket further comprises a rear protrusion formed on the side part of the body at a position adjacent to the front protrusion, and protruding from another surface of the body in a direction opposite the front protrusion, wherein the rear protrusion is supported by the guide cover.
 5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the guide cover comprises: a base facing the center part of the body of the slide bracket; and a side rail which is formed at one side of the base and in which the side part of the body of the slide bracket is inserted, wherein the front protrusion and the rear protrusion move on the side rail.
 6. The display device of claim 5, wherein the side rail comprises: a lower part extending from the base and facing the side part of the body of the slide bracket; and an upper part disposed opposite the lower part with respect to the body of the slide bracket, wherein the front protrusion is supported by the lower part, and the rear protrusion is supported by the upper part.
 7. The display device of claim 6, wherein: the lower part of the side rail comprises a lower trench recessed toward an inside of the lower part, such that the front protrusion moves on the lower trench; and the upper part of the side rail comprises an upper trench recessed toward an inside of the upper part, such that the rear protrusion moves on the upper trench.
 8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the front protrusion is in point contact with the lower trench, and the rear protrusion is in point contact with the upper trench.
 9. The display device of claim 7, wherein: the lower trench comprises a first inclined surface having a first angle with respect to a base surface, and a second inclined surface having a second angle with respect to the base surface of the lower trench and forming a boundary with the first inclined surface; and the upper trench comprises a third inclined surface having a third angle with respect to a base surface, and a fourth inclined surface having a fourth angle with respect to the base surface of the upper trench and forming a boundary with the third inclined surface.
 10. The display device of claim 9, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle, and the third angle is greater than the fourth angle.
 11. The display device of claim 9, wherein the first inclined surface faces the third inclined surface, and the second inclined surface faces the fourth inclined surface.
 12. The display device of claim 7, wherein the slide bracket comprises metal, and the guide cover comprises a resin. 